March 21, 2026, 7:02 a.m. ET
Charles Omenihu was welcomed to Washington on Friday.
Omenihu, the former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end, was listed last season as 6-5, 280 pounds. He told the media, “I can’t wait to get going.” Omenihu said. “This is my eighth year in the league, so I can quickly understand if somebody has a plan or if somebody doesn’t have a plan. When you do have a plan, that breeds success.”
“So, just having a plan in the run game and how there will be a lot of individual one-on-one blocks. In the pass game, rush inside. I can’t wait honestly to be in a system where they believe in a four-man, five-man rush. Games, twists, stunts, you are going to be with my man Oweh, K’Lavon (Chaisson), JK (Javon Kinlaw), Payne (Daron), Dorance (Armstrong) when he gets right.”
Omenihu has definitely been reading up on what the Commanders‘ GM, Adam Peters, has been busy doing this offseason. He quickly rattled off several names who are now on this roster to improve this defense. “So, I just listed a whole bunch of guys who have done very well in other places. Obviously, Payne was here his whole career. But other guys have done well elsewhere. They just know how to rush (the passer). And Leo (Chenal), my boy Leo, is here. The plan? I love it, I like it. It is rejuvenating. I can’t wait to get going.”
Interestingly enough, last season, when the Commanders played in Kansas City on Monday Night Football, Washington quarterback Marcus Mariota was scrambling to his right, trying to get out of bounds, and just as he reached the sideline, Omenihu met him, shoving him to the ground. There were words exchanged between some on the Washington sideline and Omenihu, who even took off his helmet right in front of an official to state his case to the Commanders, who objected.
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Can’t help but wonder, if that will be or has already been a subject of discussion, since Omenihu arrived in Ashburn. At least, isn’t it encouraging to think the Commanders might actually have a much improved defense from the one that gave up the most yards of any team in the NFL in 2025?